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Russia signs military deal with Iran

On 20 January 2015, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu signed a military cooperation deal with Iran that his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehqan touted as a joint response to US “interference”. The agreement came in the backdrop of both countries facing Western sanctions.

The deal provides for joint exercises and military training, as well as “cooperation in peacekeeping, maintaining regional and international security and stability, and fighting against separatism and extremism.”

Russia has long been Iran’s principal foreign arms supplier but their ties took a major hit in 2010 when Moscow cancelled a contract to deliver advanced S-300 ground to air missiles, citing UN sanctions imposed over Tehran’s nuclear programme.